Device for cutting the sidewalls of a box for separating wholly or partly the lid from the box proper

ABSTRACT

A device for cutting the sidewalls of a box for separating wholly or partly the lid from the box proper, said device comprising a conveyor passing the boxes in sequence by their sidewalls along cutting members arranged at the side of said conveyor and detecting means for assessing a cut right across each treated sidewall, wherein the improvement comprises detecting means formed by at least one blade spring having a feeler edge which can be inserted into the cut and clamped tight near one end of the edge; a member engaging the blade spring at a distance from said edge and from the clamping area for bending the blade spring; and a control element responding to a predetermined bend of each edge putting the expelling member out of operation.

United States Patent [191 Aalpoel Dec.2,1975

[75] Inventor: Marten Geert Aalpoel, Nuenen,

Netherlands [73] Assignee: Arenc0-P.M.B. B.V., Best,

Netherlands 22 Filed: Apr. 10, 1074 21 Appl; No.: 459,650

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 13, 1973 Netherlands 7305176 [52] US. Cl 30/2; 53/381 R; 83/79; 83/158; 83/358; 83/4042; 83/4252 [51] Int. Cl. B67B 7/38 [58] Field of Search 30/2; 53/381 R, 381 A; 83/79, 358, 404, 404.2, 404.4, 425.2, 425.4,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,729,885 l/l956 Wahl et a1. 30/2 6/1964 Quigley 83/404 X 7/1969 Steer et al 30/2 Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost Attorney, Agent, or FirmSnyder, Brown and Ramik [57] ABSTRACT A device for cutting the sidewalls of a box for separating wholly or partly the lid from the box proper, said device comprising a conveyor passing the boxes in sequence by their sidewalls along cutting members arranged at the side of said conveyor and detecting means for assessing a cut right'across each treated sidewall, wherein the improvement comprises detecting means formed by at least one blade spring having a feeler edge which can be inserted into the cut and clamped tight near one end of the edge; a member engaging the blade spring at a distance from said edge and from the clamping area for bending the blade spring; and a control element responding to a predetermined bend of each edge putting the expelling member out of operation.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 mg mm! DEVICE FOR CUTTING THE SIDEWALLS OF A BOX FOR SEPARATING WHOLLY OR PARTLY THE LID FROM THE BOX PROPER The invention relates to a device for cutting the sidewalls of a box for separating wholly or partly the lid from the box proper, said device comprising a conveyor passing the boxes in sequence by their sidewalls along cutting members arranged at the side of said conveyor and means for detecting an uninterrupted cut in each sidewall treated.

It is known to fold a box completely with the lid from a plano, after which the sidewalls are cut through longitudinally so that a removable lid or a flap lidis obtained. In the known devices cutting is performed by means of rotatable cutters arranged at the side of the conveyor.

The invention has for its object to provide a device which permits of treating boxes at a high rate and of effectively assessing whether the sidewalls have been cut through completely.

The invention provides a device in which said detecting means are formed by at least one blade spring having a feeler edge adapted to be inserted into the cut, said blade spring being clamped tight near one end of said edge, said device comprising a member engaging the blade spring at a distance from said edge and said clamping area for bending the blade and a control element responding to a predetermined bend of each edge for putting an expelling member out of operation.

By first inserting the feeler edge of the blade spring into the cut and by bending it subsequently, the lid will be lifted from the box proper when the cut is correctly made. Since a portion of the feeler edge is clamped tight, the box proper is retained near the clamping area by said portion on the supporting surface of the conveyor, whereas the freely flexible portion of the edge lifts the lid portion. If a cut has not been made completely right across, the lid cannot be lifted so that the feeler edge of the blade spring cannot be bent. The portion of the blade spring engaged by the pressing member will then bend around the feeler edge and the clamping area. Since the feeler edge does not bend over the controlelement will actuate the expelling element so that the not correctly finished box is expelled.

According to the invention the cutters and the blade springs are preferably formed by safety shaving blades arranged alongside the conveyor. These blades can be readily exchanged and adjusted. Moreover, they can operate as blade springs so that the cutting members and the detecting members utilize the same elements, which is conducive to the simplicity of the device.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the drawing, which shows one embodiment. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line IIII in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of detail of the detecting means in the state of a correct cut in the sidewalls of the box,

FIG. 4 shows a detail corresponding with that of FIG. 3, however, in the state of an incorrect cut.

The boxes 3 are transported stepwise on a conveyor comprising two intermittently driven chains 1 and an intermediate supporting surface 2 (see FIG. 2) by means of catches 4 fastened to the chains. On either side of the conveyor guide plates 5 are arranged, the upper edges of which are bent over so that the boxes bear on the vertical part by their sidewalls and their top surface bears on the bentover part of the guide plates 5. In this embodiment the conveyor comprises two orthogonal runs, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. g I I At the side of the conveyor cutting members 6 are arranged, that is to say only on the left-hand side along the first run and on either side of the second run. These cutting members are formed by safety shaving blades rigidly held on a fitting holder 7 by means of clamping plates 8. The cutting edge of each cutting member is in a dragging position relative to the direction of conveyance indicated by the arrow P and P The blade can therefore be turned over four times before it has to be replaced by a new one.

At the end of the second run ofthe conveyor detecting means are arranged to assess whether the cut made by the cutting members 6 in the sidewalls of the boxes has been correctly carried out. The detecting means are also formed by safety shaving blades arranged rigidly along their side of the conveyor, which blades 9 do not serve in this case as cutting members but forming a blade spring. The cutting edge of the safety shaving blade serves as a feeler edge 10, which is inserted into the cut made by the blades 6 when the box is passed by.

The blade spring 9 is clamped tight near one end of the feeler edge 10 by means of the clamping member 11 (see FIG. 3). At a distance from the feeler edge 10 and the clamping member 11 a pressing member is adapted to move up and down, said member engaging the blade spring 9 on the bottom side and performing a fixed stroke.

Above the conveyor a control element 13 is provided with a control-lever 14, the free end of which is adapted to move in a vertical sense, that is to say in the direction of bending of the blades 9 near the midpoint between the blade springs 9.. The control element 13 may be formed by a micro-switch, which, when changed over, puts an expelling member 15 out of operation. This expelling member is arranged behind the detecting means, viewed in the direction of conveyance, and conducts an incorrectly cut box away from the conveyor so that this box cannot arrive at the subsequent working stations.

The device operates as follows. By the stepwise displacement of the conveyor a box 3 is each time passed first with its long side along the first cutter 6 so that this sidewall is cut through longitudinally. Then the first run of the conveyor transfers said box to the second run,

which owing toits orthogonal disposition relative to the first run, conveys the box by its two sidewalls at right angles to the long front wall along the cutters 6 arranged on either side so that these sidewalls are cut. Finally the box arrives at the detecting means.

Initially the blade springs 9 are in the stretched state so that the feeler edge 10 is straight and can readily enter the cut made. Subsequently the pressing member 12 is moved upwards so that the two blade springs 9 bend upwardly around the clamping area (see FIG. 3). If the cut has been correctly made, the feeler edge is also bent, since the lid can then turn freely with respect to the box proper. The lifted lid pushes the controllever 14 of the control element -13 upwards so that the lever changed over and the expelling member is put out of operation.

If the cut is not right across the sidewall of a box, for example in the right hand sidewall in FIG. 4, the lid cannot move upwards when the pressing member 12 moves upwards, so that the feeler edge 10 remains in its straight state and the blade spring 9 will bend around both the clamping part and the feeler edge 10. On the other side of the box, where the cut may be correct, the lid can move upwards. However, as compared with the position shown in FIG. 3, the lid will rise over half the distance, which is not enough for changing over the micro-switch 13 via the control-lever 14, so that the expelling member is not put out of action and the box concerned is conducted away from the conveyor.

It should be noted here that the guide plates 5 on either side of the conveyor at the level of the detecting means are removed for allowing a free upward movement of the lid of the box. Nevertheless the box is held on the supporting surface 2 of the conveyor because the unbent, clamped end of the blade spring 9 continues to bear on the edge of the box proper. The invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above. This embodiment is suitable for making flap boxes, one upright wall of the box not being cut and serving as a hinge surface. It will be obvious that in a further embodiment the whole lid can be cut loose from the box proper by providing a cutting member 6 also on theother side of the conveyor. The detecting means may then be extended by two blade springs 9, arranged each in line with the blade springs already provided. The whole lid is then lifted.

The control element may be constructed in the form of two series-connected micro-switches, the individual control-levers co-operating with a blade spring. There may, moreover, be designed devices suitable for treating boxes of non-rectangular shape. In accordance with the angle between the sidewalls of a box, the different runs of the conveyor will be arranged at different angles. The blade springs 9 can be properly arranged at the sides of this conveyor. Finally, it may be conceived to arrange the blade springs 9 on a supporting structure rather than being arranged so as to be stationary alongside the conveyor, the feeler edge 10 being pressed by said structure into the cut made, then bent over and finally retired. A possible design is then a long blade spring extending along the whole long side surface and being retained and bent respectively at different places.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for cutting the sidewalls of a box for separating wholly or partly the lid from the box proper, said device comprising a conveyor passing the boxes past cutting members arranged at the side of said conveyor and detecting means for detecting the presence of complete cuts along a sufficient number of said sidewalls as to allow said separating of the lid, and an expelling member for expelling boxes whose lids cannot be separated, characterized in that the detecting means are formed by at least one blade spring having a feeler edge which can be inserted into a cut and clamped tight near one end of the edge, in that a member engages the blade spring at a distance from said edge and from the clamping area for bending the blade spring and in that a control element responding to a predetermined movement of the lid away from the box as effected 4 bending of said blade by saidmember puts the expelling member out of operation.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the control element comprises a switching lever, the free end of which is operative approximately midway between two blade springs in the directionof bending.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that the cutter members are formed by blade-shaped knives arranged at the side of the conveyor.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that the blade springs as well as the cutting members are formed by safety shaving blades.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that the cutting edge of each blade-shaped cutting member is in a dragging position relative to the direction of conveyance.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the cutter members are formed by blade-shaped knives arranged at the side of the conveyor.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 characterized in that the blade springs as well as the cutting members are formed by safety shaving blades.

8. A device as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that the blade springs as well as the cutting members are formed by safety shaving blades.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 characterized in that the cutting edge of each blade-shaped cutting member is.in a dragging position relative to the direction of conveyance.

10. A device as claimed in claim 4 characterized in that the cutting edge of each blade-shaped cutting member is in a dragging position relative to the direction of conveyance.

11. In a device for cutting the sidewall of a box to form a top which may be moved to an open position, which device includes fixed cutting means for cutting a box along a continuous line of sufficient length as to allow the top to be moved to an open position, conveyor means for travelling the box past said cutting means to effect the necessary continuous line of cut, and separating means for separating boxes which lack said continuous line of cut sufficient to allow the top to be moved to an open position from those boxes whosetops can be moved to open position, the improvements which comprises:

detecting means for detecting the absence of said continuous line of cut sufficient to allow the top to be moved to an open position whereby to permit operation of said separating means, said detecting means comprising at least one flexible blade-like member having an edge adapted to enter the line of cut, means for deflecting said blade-like member in a direction to move the top to open position and engaging said flexible bladelike member at such position as to permit deformation of said member while said edge thereof remains stationary in the event a top will not move to open position, and means for sensing movement of the top toward open position and preventingactuation of said separating means in response thereto. 

1. A device for cutting the sidewalls of a box for separating wholly or partly the lid from the box proper, said device comprising a conveyor passing the boxes past cutting members arranged at the side of said conveyor and detecting means for detecting the presence of complete cuts along a sufficient number of said sidewalls as to allow said separating of the lid, and an expelling member for expelling boxes whose lids cannot be separated, characterized in that the detecting means are formed by at least one blade spring having a feeler edge which can be inserted into a cut and clamped tight near one end of the edge, in that a member engages the blade spring at a distance from said edge and from the clamping area for bending the blade spring and in that a control element responding to a predetermined movement of the lid away from the box as effected bending of said blade by said member puts the expelling member out of operation.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the control element comprises a switching lever, the free end of which is operative approximately midway between two blade springs in the direction of bending.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that the cutter members are formed by blade-shaped knives arranged at the side of the conveyor.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that the blade springs as well as the cutting members are formed by safety sHaving blades.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that the cutting edge of each blade-shaped cutting member is in a dragging position relative to the direction of conveyance.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the cutter members are formed by blade-shaped knives arranged at the side of the conveyor.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 6 characterized in that the blade springs as well as the cutting members are formed by safety shaving blades.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that the blade springs as well as the cutting members are formed by safety shaving blades.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 8 characterized in that the cutting edge of each blade-shaped cutting member is in a dragging position relative to the direction of conveyance.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 4 characterized in that the cutting edge of each blade-shaped cutting member is in a dragging position relative to the direction of conveyance.
 11. In a device for cutting the sidewall of a box to form a top which may be moved to an open position, which device includes fixed cutting means for cutting a box along a continuous line of sufficient length as to allow the top to be moved to an open position, conveyor means for travelling the box past said cutting means to effect the necessary continuous line of cut, and separating means for separating boxes which lack said continuous line of cut sufficient to allow the top to be moved to an open position from those boxes whose tops can be moved to open position, the improvements which comprises: detecting means for detecting the absence of said continuous line of cut sufficient to allow the top to be moved to an open position whereby to permit operation of said separating means, said detecting means comprising at least one flexible blade-like member having an edge adapted to enter the line of cut, means for deflecting said blade-like member in a direction to move the top to open position and engaging said flexible bladelike member at such position as to permit deformation of said member while said edge thereof remains stationary in the event a top will not move to open position, and means for sensing movement of the top toward open position and preventing actuation of said separating means in response thereto. 